Coding method of mobile user equipment

• US 7,610,039 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Min-Gyo
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/073,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455/558, 455419-420, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 380/270, 380/247, 713/159, 713/176
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

An International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) is coded and then stored in a user equipment (UE), wherein an authorized user is allowed to change the existing IMEI. When an IMEI is inputted, the UE generates a security code and stores the IMEI and the generated security code in a memory. Thereafter, if a second security code and IMEI is inputted, the UE determines whether the inputted security code is identical with the pre-stored security code. If the two security codes are identical with each other, the UE generates a third security code and stores the IMEI and the generated third security code. Thus, unauthorized IMEI storage is prevented. Accordingly, the IMEI coding method of the mobile UE can prevent unauthorized use of the UE while allowing the IMEI to be re-coded without hardware alteration.

Claims

1. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile terminal comprising:

receiving an equipment identity input from a terminal;

determining if a first security code is stored in the mobile terminal when the equipment identity input is received from the terminal;

generating a security code when the equipment identity input command is received if the first security code is not stored in the mobile terminal;

transmitting the security code to the terminal;

coding the equipment identity and the security code in the mobile terminal;

storing the coded equipment identity and the coded security code in the mobile terminal;

receiving a second input command comprising a second equipment identity and a second security code from a second terminal;

comparing the security code with the second security code when the second input command is received;

generating a third security code if the security code and second security code match;

transmitting the third security code to the second terminal;

coding the second equipment identity and the third security code; and

storing the second equipment identity and the third security code in the mobile terminal, wherein the equipment identity is changed to the second equipment identity, wherein the equipment identity and second equipment identity comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) for a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) user equipment (UE).

2. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile terminal comprising:

receiving a first input command comprising a first equipment identity from a first terminal;

generating a first security code when the first input command is received;

transmitting the first security code to the terminal;

coding the first equipment identity and the first security code;

storing the coded first equipment identity and the first security code in the mobile terminal;

receiving a second input command comprising a second equipment identity and a second security code from a second terminal;

comparing the first security code with the second security code when the second input command is received;

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes match;

transmitting the third security code to the second terminal;

coding the second equipment identity and the third security code; and

storing the second equipment identity and the third security code in the mobile terminal, wherein the first equipment identity is changed to the second equipment identity, wherein each of the first and second equipment identities comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third security code is generated when the input command comprising the second equipment identity is an equipment identity write command.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the third security code is input with a third equipment identity after the second equipment identity has been stored in the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein no operation related to the second equipment identity is performed if the first and second security codes are not identical with each other.

6. An equipment identity coding method of a mobile terminal comprising:

receiving an input command comprising of a second equipment identity and a second security code from a terminal;

determining whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes match when the first security code is stored in the user equipment;

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes are identical with each other;

transmitting the third security code to the terminal;

coding the second equipment identity and the third security code

storing the coded second equipment identity and the third security code in the mobile terminal, wherein the second equipment identity contains an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third security code is generated when the input command of the equipment identity is an equipment identity write command.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third security code and a third equipment identity are input after the coded second equipment identity is stored in the mobile terminal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein no operation related to the second equipment identity is performed if the first and second security codes are not identical with each other.

10. A method for reading and executing an equipment identity code of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, an input command comprising of a second equipment identity and a second security code from a terminal;

determining whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes match when the first security code is stored in the user equipment; and

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes match;

transmitting the third security code to the terminal; and

coding the second equipment identity using the generated third security code,

wherein a first equipment identity is changed to the second equipment identity, and wherein the second equipment identity contains an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).

11. A processor-readable storage media storing a software program to allow a processor to read and execute a coding method of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving an input command comprising of a second equipment identity and a second security code from a terminal;

determining whether a first security code is stored in the user equipment when the input command is an equipment identity write command;

determining whether the first and second security codes match when the first security code is stored in the user equipment; and

generating a third security code if the first and second security codes match;

transmitting the third security code to the terminal;

coding the second equipment identity and the third security code; and

storing the coded second equipment identity and the third security code in the mobile terminal,

wherein a first equipment identity is changed to the second equipment identity, and wherein the second equipment identity contains an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).